Electrical vehicle charging devices, systems, and methods

Abstract

A charging station expander (expander) for receiving electrical power from an existing charging station and distributing the electrical power received to at least one PEV is described. The expander increases usability of the existing charging station by permitting the existing charging station to be effectively coupled to two or more PEVs for charging according to methods described herein. The expander may comprise a female port, a switch relay, power distribution cables, a controller, and a housing. The housing may house the switch relay, the controller, portions of the female port, and portions of the power distribution cables. The female port removably couples with a male connector of the existing charging station. The power distribution cables removably couple with the two or more PEVs. The controller controls both an order of how the two or more PEVs may be charged and how a given PEV presently receiving charging may be charged.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A charging station expander for receiving electrical power from an existing charging station and distributing the electrical power received to at least one plug-in electrical vehicle selected from two or more plug-in electrical vehicles, wherein the charging station expander comprises:
 a female port for receiving a male connector; wherein the male connector is connected via a cable to the existing charging station; wherein the female port receives the electrical power from the male connector;   a switch relay comprising two or more switches; wherein the switch relay is in electrical communication with the female port such that at least some of the electrical power from the female port is received at the switch relay; wherein each switch selected from the two or more switches has two operational states: engaged and non-engaged; wherein in the engaged operational state the switch allows electrical flow; wherein in the non-engaged operational state the switch does not allow electrical flow;   two or more power distribution cables; wherein each power distribution cable selected from the two or more power distribution cables originates from each switch selected from the two or more switches; wherein each power distribution cable selected from the two or more power distribution cables terminates in a final male connector; wherein each final male connector removably connects to a port of each plug-in electrical vehicle selected from the two or more plug-in electrical vehicles; wherein each power distribution cable receives at least a portion of the at least some of the electrical power from the switch in which the power distribution cable is connected to is engaged;   a controller; wherein the controller is in electrical communication with the switch relay; wherein the controller comprises memory and a processor; wherein the memory and the processor are in electrical communication with each other; wherein the memory non-transitorily stores software, wherein the processor executes the software to control the switch relay by at least engaging and disengaging switches selected from the two or more switches;   a housing; wherein the housing houses the switch relay and the controller; wherein the female port is located on an exterior of the housing or wherein the female port is accessible from the exterior; wherein at least some portion the two or more distribution cables emerge from the housing;   wherein the charging station expander is disposed between the existing charging station and the two or more plug-in electrical vehicles.   
     
     
         2 . The charging station expander according to  claim 1 , wherein the female port is configured according to SAE J1772 standard to be removably coupled with the male connector that is also configured according to the SAE J1772 standard; wherein the female port comprises five receptacles, with two of the five receptacles configured to receive electrical power, a third of the five receptacles connected to ground, a fourth of the five receptacles for communicating pilot signals, and a final receptacle to be paired with a proximity detector of the male connector. 
     
     
         3 . The charging station expander according to  claim 1 , wherein the female port is configured according to one of the following standards: SAE J1772, SAE J2836/1-6, SAE J2847/1-5, or a standard permitting communication that a device is ready to receive the electrical power; and the male connector is also configured to a corresponding complimentary standard to removably couple with the female port. 
     
     
         4 . The charging station expander according to  claim 1 , wherein the female port comprises a tamper resistant device; wherein the tamper resistance device mitigates against uncoupling of the male connector from the female port; wherein the tamper resistance device substantially encloses a portion of an exterior body of the male connector. 
     
     
         5 . The charging station expander according to  claim 1 , wherein the two or more switches are arranged in a parallel configuration. 
     
     
         6 . The charging station expander according to  claim 1 , wherein the two or more switches comprises a number of switches; wherein the number comprises two, three, four, five, six, or seven switches; wherein the two or more distribution cables comprises a quantity of distribution cables that corresponds to the number of the two or more switches. 
     
     
         7 . The charging station expander according to  claim 1 , wherein each distribution cable selected from the two or more distribution cables comprises wiring for electrical power transfer and separate wiring for communications between the controller and the plug-in electrical vehicle selected from the two or more plug-in electrical vehicles that each final male connector is removably connected to. 
     
     
         8 . The charging station expander according to  claim 1 , wherein each final male connector is configured according to SAE J1772 standard to be coupled with the port of each plug-in electrical vehicle selected from the two or more plug-in electrical vehicles; wherein each final male connector comprises five pins, with two of the five pins configured to distribute at least a portion of the at least some of the electrical power, a third of the five pins connected to ground, a fourth of the five pins for communicating pilot signals, and a final pin, a fifth, with a proximity sensor. 
     
     
         9 . The charging station expander according to  claim 1 , wherein each final male connector is configured according to one of the following standards: SAE J1772, SAE J2836/1-6, SAE J2847/1-5, or a standard permitting communication of one or more of a state of charge of the plug-in electrical vehicle connected to the final male connector, a vehicle identification of the plug-in electrical vehicle connected to the final male connector, or a user-account associated with the plug-in electrical vehicle connected to the final male connector. 
     
     
         10 . The charging station expander according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller receives power from one or more of: the female port, the switch relay, or an independent power source that is independent of the existing charging station; wherein the power received by controller is used to operate the controller and the switch relay and to facilitate communications between one or more of: between the controller and the existing charging station, between the controller and the switch relay, or between the controller and the two or more plug-in electric vehicles removably coupled any of the final male connectors. 
     
     
         11 . The charging station expander according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller sends a communication pilot signal to the female port; wherein the female port communicates the communication pilot signal to the male connector; wherein the communication pilot signal mimics a pilot signal from a plug-in electrical vehicle with a status of connected and ready to receive electrical power such that the existing charging station distributes the electrical power. 
     
     
         12 . The charging station expander according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller comprises one or more of the following: a network adapter, a modem, or a router; wherein the one or more of the network adapter, the modem, or the router are in electrical communication with the processor; wherein the one or more of the network adapter, the modem, or the router operate as a gateway to facilitate communication with one or more of the following: one or more mobile computing devices or more or more remote servers. 
     
     
         13 . The charging station expander according to  claim 12 , wherein the one or more of the network adapter, the modem, or the router provide wireless communication via a wireless protocol utilizing at least one radio or at least one antenna. 
     
     
         14 . The charging station expander according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller comprises an integral display; wherein the integral display is located on a portion of the exterior of the housing; wherein the integral display is in electrical communication with the processor; wherein the integral display displays display outputs directed from the processor to the integral display. 
     
     
         15 . The charging station expander according to  claim 14 , wherein the display outputs depict one or more of the following a status of the charging station expander or a status of each plug-in electrical vehicle connected to the charging station expander. 
     
     
         16 . The charging station expander according to  claim 14 , wherein the integral display comprises one or more of the following: at least one light, a screen, a touch screen, a speaker, a siren, or a buzzer. 
     
     
         17 . The charging station expander according to  claim 1 , wherein controller comprises an integral input device; wherein the integral input device is located on a portion of the exterior of the housing; wherein the integral input device is in electrical communication with the processor; wherein the integral input device receives user inputs and directs those user inputs to the processor. 
     
     
         18 . The charging station expander according to  claim 17 , wherein the integral input device comprises one or more of the following: a microphone, at least one button, at least one switch, at least one lever, at least one dial, at least one slide, a touch screen, a keyboard, a joystick, a mouse, or a payment receiving device. 
     
     
         19 . The charging station expander according to  claim 18 , wherein the payment receiving device is selected from one or more of the following: a credit card reader, a means for accepting coins, a means for accepting currency bills, a means for returning change, or at least one radio configured for facilitating payment via a mobile payment system. 
     
     
         20 . The charging station expander according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller comprises a safety problem detector; wherein the safety problem detector is in electrical communication with the processor; wherein when the safety problem detector detects a safety problem, transmission of electrical power to two or more plug-in electrical vehicles is terminated. 
     
     
         21 . The charging station expander according to  claim 20 , wherein the safety problem detector comprises one or more of: an accelerometer, a gyroscopic sensor, an inertial measurement sensor, a hygrometer, or a moisture sensor; wherein the accelerometer, the gyroscopic sensor, and the inertial measurement sensor each detect motion of the charging station expander; wherein when the motion is greater than a predetermined threshold of acceptable motion, the safety problem detector will treat the motion as the safety problem; wherein the hygrometer and moisture sensor each detect moisture, wherein when the moisture is greater than a predetermined threshold of acceptable moisture, the safety problem detector will treat the moisture as the safety problem. 
     
     
         22 . The charging station expander according to  claim 1 , wherein at least some of an exterior of the housing comprises one or more mounting structures, wherein the one or more mounting structures permit attaching the charging station expander to one or more of: the existing charging station, a wall, a girder, a frame, a stud or a substrate. 
     
     
         23 . The charging station expander according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises safety structure to mitigate against impacts to the charging station expander causing damage to the charging station expander. 
     
     
         24 . The charging station expander according to  claim 23 , wherein the safety structure comprises a cage substantially circumscribing the exterior of the housing. 
     
     
         25 . The charging station expander according to claim ?, wherein at least a portion of the exterior of the housing comprises a region for displaying one or more of a graphic, a brand, or a trademark.